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Drew Fuller, James Garner, Ali Hillis, Abigail Breslin, Lee Meriwether ... see more see more... , Brian Dennehy , Bill Cobbs , Mark Joy , D. David Morin , Brett Rice , Catherine McGoohan , Mel Fair , David Temple , Mircea Monroe , Jim Stovall , Rick Eldridge , George Lee Masters , Donna Cherry , Alecia Brady Curcuru , Patrick McCrory , Calvin Thompson

Filmmaker Michael O. Sajbel explores the relationship between wealth and happiness with this spiritual-minded tale about a privileged young man who receives a most unexpected inheritance. Adapted from... read more read more... the best-selling book by author Jim Stovall, The Ultimate Gift opens as trust-fund baby Jason Stevens (Drew Fuller) prepares to receive a sizable inheritance from his late grandfather Red (James Garner). Though Jason is convinced that the money is about to come flowing in, he receives a sudden shock upon discovering that Red has instead decided to offer him something much more valuable than simple cash. Realizing that his spoiled grandson has lived a sheltered life in which he has always been handed the very best of everything, Red has devised a crash course in living comprised of 12 gifts that will challenge the arrogant young man in ways that he could never have imagined nor anticipated. In the weeks that follow, Jason will befriend a terminally ill child (Abigail Breslin) and her grief-stricken mother (Ali Hillis) while attempting to determine whether it is money or happiness that truly matters in life. Brian Dennehy and Lee Meriwether co-star in an uplifting drama from the director of The Ride and One Night with the King. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

85% liked it

38,833 ratings

Critics

32% liked it

59 critics

PG, 1 hr. 57 min.

Directed by: Michael O. Sajbel

Release Date: October 20, 2006

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DVD Release Date: August 21, 2007

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Stats: 3,232 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (3,232)

  • jmanard52
    March 30, 2009
    jmanard52
    Heartwarming, Heartbreaking, tender and tough. This is a movie worth watching by anyone of any age. There truly is more to life than money.
  • spielberg00
    October 12, 2011
    spielberg00
    I vaguely remember seeing this, and it wasn't anything new. Just a typical family movie: cute kid, one parent gone, family issue, parent and other main character hook up. That's the gist of it. Sound familiar?
  • itsjustme2004
    April 24, 2011
    itsjustme2004
    Wonderful wholesome movie that grabs at your heart strings. The little girl Abigail Breslin (Emily Rose) is such a joy to watch. She has so much spunk, and talent, for such a young girl. The movie overall was great from beginning to end. I suggest you have a tissue box next to yo... read moreu when watching, though...definitely a tearjerker.
  • LWOODS04
    December 26, 2009
    LWOODS04
    Drew Fuller, Abigal Breslin, Ali Hillis, James Garner, Brian Dennehy, Bill Cobbs, Lee Meriwether

    When his wealthy grandfather dies, trust fund baby Jason Stevens anticipates a big inheritance. Instead, his grandfather has devised a crash course on life with 12 tasks--or "gifts... read more"--designed to challenge Jason in improbable ways, sending him on a journey of self-discovery and forcing him to determine what is most important in life: money or happiness.
    A great film about love, laughter, and grief. What life is all about really. A fun and sweet story with really great characters played very strongly by the actors. Got very caught up in the story very quickly. It's amazing when Hollywood puts out a clean movie that is not only good but also with great performances that keep you entertained. You feel for these characters because some of the story has affected one of us at one time in our lives or we know someone else who has dealt with it. So its very easy to connect with them. A great movie for the entire family. Not a lot of those out there unless they are animated or Disney related. But this one would be good for everyone. Probably could learn a lot from this film. Drew Fuller was great. Good seeing him doing something that he has a lead in so he can show how talented he is and that he has range. The acting from Abigal Breslin was amazing. Such a talented young girl who will go far in this business. I really liked Ali Hillis in this movie too. Thought she gave a great performance. This movie is going to have you laughing at one moment and then crying the next. A must see...
  • dreamfaeries
    August 20, 2008
    dreamfaeries
    Really cute.
  • bbcfloridabound
    August 5, 2008
    bbcfloridabound
    Fox Family Movies Never Get A Fair Chance in The Movie Theathers, Wonder why I didn't hear about this one. Its one of the better movies you will see, Right Next to Auguest Rush. Get it and Get it Now
  • DouglasWCollins
    February 24, 2008
    DouglasWCollins
    This was a wonderful movie! It may have had a predictable ending (like 99 % of movies due) but it was a emotional ride to get there.
  • SilentWarProductions2009
    December 6, 2007
    SilentWarProductions2009
    Directed by: Michael O. Sajbel.
    Starring: Drew Fuller, Abigail Breslin, Ali Hillis, James Garner.

    I had hoped for brilliance out of this, I had read viewers reviews and felt I should watch it, but I also decided to read the critics reviews and get an ... read moreidea on what they didn't like about it....I am going to have to go with the critics on this one, but only their ratings, not their reasons, because I have my own reason I didn't like this film.

    The story follows trust fund baby Jason Stevens, a self-righteous man with little morals. When his wealthy grandfather passes, he thought he was entitled to a large sum of money, instead he is given tasks, to help him see the differences between wealth and happiness and meets some inspirational people along the way. I could turn around and say here that this film has 'formula' written all over it, but that isn't the problem. What I will say first is that the film has great intentions. Aside from the formulaic structure, it works by being sweet, sincere and inspirational in its message and with some inventive direction by Michael O. Sajbel, everything should be great....it isn't. The good intentions are killed by a lack of cohesive storytelling. The sincere scenes come along, but in small parts. We are put through a slow pacing which isn't overly bad, but the writer made a mistake. It isn't the many unnecessary settings for such a film, but the different jumps in genre and too many ideas that ruin the film and when the ending can't avoid contradicting its message, even with the layer of sweetness smeared on the top, it ultimately ruined it for me. The acting was really great though. Aside from Drew Fuller, who comes across as forced and with little believability, the rest shine. Abigail Breslin continues to show major potential, she plays the role beyond her years with such sweetness and understanding, she is sure to be a leading actress in years to come. Ali Hillis is also a reasonably new newcomer to feature films and her presence is full of spirit....and there is chemistry between her and Drew Fuller for us to enjoy.

    I hate the fact that my opinion is like this, because this film had the biggest potential to be amazing, but it gets killed by too many factors. A film with such a great heart and good intentions, but it gets killed by too many ideas, which makes for a lack of cohesive storytelling around the few sincere and heartfelt scenes....and an ending that contradicts itself without realizing, even if the message is bought across. I am just glad it didn't take the Christian elements any further. A disappointment, and I hate to say that.
  • panta2
    February 21, 2008
    panta2
    [b][color=brown][size=5]THE ULTIMATE GIFT (2007)[/size][/color]

    [i][img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/coverv/37/1024337.jpg[/img]

    [/i][color=orange][i]Sa smrcu bogatog industrijalca, okuplja se cela familija da bi podelili bogatstvo koje je on godinama sticao ... read moreteskim radom. Vecina clanova familije nije nikada radial ili uspela da ista zaradi, pa je podelom svako ocekivao veci deo?

    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/gallery/1173966/photo_09.jpg[/img]

    Ali, najveci deo je ostao po strain, s time sto je unuku, koji nije mnogo postigao u zivotu, ostavljeno da uradi vise zadataka koje ga na kraju vode do cilja: savrsenog poklona.

    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/gallery/1173966/photo_10.jpg[/img]

    Ovo je lepa prica posle koje svako ponesto nauci ili bar sebe natera na razmisljanje o zivotu i odnosu prema odredjenim aspektima istoga. Veoma lep izbor glumaca, a sigurna reziserska palica i veoma solidan scenario sun am u ovome filmu dali estetski dozivljaj sa kojim svako na kraju izadje sa osmehom na licu. Mnogi misle da je previse 'sladunjav', a;i to ostavljam da svako od vas oceni. Ovaj film je zaradio samo nesto malo vise od 3 miliona dolara, sto je za mene bilo iznenadjenje kada je prethodni film o kojem sam pisao zaradio deset puta vise... to samo govori o ukusu danasnje publike.

    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/gallery/1173966/photo_07.jpg[/img]

    Preporucio bih ovaj film posebno onima koji imaju sanse da u bioskop idu zajedno sa svojim tinejdzerima! Bice tu razgovora posle filma, to vam garantujem. Da ne zaboravim i veoma dobru glumu Drew Fuller, James Garner-a, Ali Hillis i Abigail Breslin u solidnoj reziji Michael O. Sajbel-a.
    Nekako sam mogao predspostaviti da je scenario pisala zena - Cheryl McKay, ali ja se ne zalim na 'happy ending'... naprotiv!

    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/gallery/1173966/photo_06.jpg[/img]

    Od mene ovoga puta, sa osmehom na licu 7/10[/i][/color][/b]

    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/gallery/1173966/photo_04.jpg[/img]
  • Yinali
    January 5, 2010
    Yinali
    It's nice.

View All The Ultimate Gift Reviews

Critic Reviews

Lou Lumenick
August 22, 2007
Lou Lumenick, New York Post

This new film moves along smoothly until Grandpa's most preposterous mission - which needlessly drags out the movie -- takes Jason to a severely caricatured Ecuador. Full Review

Richard Roeper
March 20, 2007
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

I think urban sophisticates can be people of faith who want to see movies, occasionally, that don't have the four-letter words, and I do embrace religion, but I think they have to be better than this.

March 17, 2007
Boston Globe

Christian charity, in this movie, seems like a side-effect of capitalism. Full Review

Peter Rainer
March 15, 2007
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

[James] Garner is good, and so is Brian Dennehy as a crusty ranch owner; Abigail Breslin, playing a leukemia patient, demonstrates that she was not a one-note wonder in Little Miss Sunshine. Full Review

Gregory Kirschling
March 14, 2007
Gregory Kirschling, Entertainment Weekly

The Ultimate Gift is kind of like a feel-good Saw for churchgoers, minus the sadistic games of death. Full Review

Jeannette Catsoulis
March 9, 2007
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times

Reeking of self-righteousness and moral reprimand, The Ultimate Gift is a hairball of good-for-you filmmaking.

Jack Mathews
March 9, 2007
Jack Mathews, New York Daily News

Has a mercifully light hand in selling its Christian-values themes, but its plodding story about a spoiled young scion who must complete 12 tasks assigned him by his late grandfather is still a slog. Full Review

Lisa Kennedy
March 9, 2007
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

The Ultimate Gift is less a theatrical feature than a Sunday night made-for-TV movie brought to you by Hallmark. That sounds crueler than it is: The movie, directed by Michael O. Sajbel, has plenty of... Full Review

Frank Scheck
March 9, 2007
Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

The predictabilities of the story line might be forgivable if they had been rendered more entertainingly, but the overlong proceedings have been staged in an utterly pedestrian fashion.

Joe Leydon
March 8, 2007
Joe Leydon, Variety

It soft-pedals its religious elements -- discussions of faith and God are fleeting, almost subliminal -- without stinting on the celebration of wholesome family values. Full Review

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  • Who was the spoiled brat, have it all rich kid in "the ultimate gift"?  Answer »
  • In the movie 'The Ultimate Gift', the male lead, Drew Fuller, has been also held a role in what hit TV series?  Answer »
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